Endozoochorous seed dispersal by cattle—an option for species enrichment in deintensified grasslands?

Abstract

Cattle are relatively good endozoochorous seed dispersers. Could feeding cattle with the seeds of endozoochorous target species be used as a method to floristically enhance species-poor, de-intensified grasslands? Based on the five stages of seed dispersal, the possibilities and limitations of endozoochorous species establishment are outlined. The process of establishment after cowpat deposition involves a multitude of imponderables due to the multifactorial structure of the effects. Nevertheless, a number of authors report encouraging findings regarding seedling establishment from cattle feces under field conditions. The methods available for introducing target species into species-poor grasslands are summarized, and a seed-feeding method is classified with respect to the existing range of measures. The new procedure is cost-effective and could be incorporated into the grazing system as a repeatable routine. A number of open questions are addressed, the exploration of which could help optimize the process and better assess the chances of success.